Marine environmental law and the efficiency of the monotoring, control and surveillance system in Namibia

Abstract

Abstract provided by author

This paper deals with the examination of the current legal and administrative framework for the management of fisheries resources in Namibia and its importance. This examination is aimed at eliciting information on whether the measures provided for in the legal instrument are effective in the management of the marine environment

Namibia as a coastal state has an exclusive economic zone, where it has the right to implement a management system for its fisheries resources. However, some of the resources are shared with other neighbouring countries and some are found in the high seas. Therefore, the paper also looks at how these straddling fish stocks and fisheries resources are managed by some regional and international instruments and bodies and particularly shedding light on the monitoring, control and surveillance system. On this aspect the paper examines how these national and international instruments and bodies supplement and/ or compliment the Namibian management measures by their management of shared resources and high seas resources. The paper further examines the perceptions of the industry with regard to the fisheries management regime, its implementation, enforcement of the legal instruments and their compliance with the instruments.